Kerry, John (1943—)

John Forbes Kerry was born in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Colorado. The son of a foreign service officer, Kerry was raised Catholic and spent his childhood primarily on international soil. After graduating from Yale University, Kerry joined the U.S. Navy and did two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1966 to 1970. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three purple hearts. Upon his return from Vietnam, Kerry became actively involved in “Vietnam Veterans Against the War,” and in 1971, he was the first Vietnam veteran to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the atrocities of the war. In a 2-hour-long hearing, Kerry expressed resentment and consternation about war crimes he had witnessed that were perpetrated by U.S. servicemen sent to “die ...